Indian General Elections:

LTTE to help Maoists to disrupt

Walter Jayawardhana

The Times of India newspaper, sourcing from intelligence sources said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) might try to help India Maoist insurgents to disrupt polling activities in the coming general elections.

The report said though the effect of LTTE-support, according to the central intelligence agencies, is expected to be felt mostly down south and southeast, the repercussion cannot be ignored even in central India.

The newspaper said Indian intelligence services have in the past found evidence of joint Maoist-LTTE military camps in the jungles of South India.

In the coming elections the LTTE will try to help Maoists to disrupt elections, the Times of India said. The report in the Times of India: "The Maoists plan to challenge the security forces during the forthcoming general election may turn ominous as the former are likely to get support from various anti-national groups including a battered LTTE looking to create diversions.

Sri Lanka Tigers have been a known ally of the rebels.

In the ballot versus bullet war, government security forces would possibly have to fight grim battles to ensure that citizens do not succumb to the boycott call of the Maoists and the polling is not disrupted. Though the effect of LTTE-support, according to the central intelligence agencies, is expected to be felt mostly down south and southeast, the repercussion cannot be ignored even in the central India.

Maharashtra state Anti-Naxal Operation Cell (ANO) has already issued an alert to the adjoining states to step up their border-sealing activities to prevent crossing-over and joint-operations of the Naxal outfits. The LTTE, which had earlier also supported Maoist with training and arms, is likely to play mischief in order to disrupt election.

LTTE is in a shambles but it would not leave any stone unturned to settle scores with India, said a cop. Intelligence agencies have often found evidence of joint training camps and meetings of the LTTE and Maoists in forests of south India. We also have to disrupt these meetings in the jungles and hilly terrains, the officer said. The threat in Gadchiroli, which shares borders with Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh that have large numbers of highly-sensitive zones, is also looming large".